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Topic: Eternal torment (Read 11657 times)

Does the EOC believe in the doctrine of torment for the unsaved immediately after the die (in Hades). And that they will continue to be tormented forever in the Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne Judgment?

Before the General Resurrection/Last Judgment and after a person's death, there is only a foretaste of the future, and for those whose experience is torment, it is not irreversible through the prayers of the Church. In other words, it ain't over till it's over.

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Quote from: GabrieltheCelt

If you spend long enough on this forum, you'll come away with all sorts of weird, untrue ideas of Orthodox Christianity.

Quote from: orthonorm

I would suggest most persons in general avoid any question beginning with why.

One explanation I've heard is that the fire experienced by the unbeliever is the light and love of God experienced as a burning fire by those who wish to escape His presence and who can't because he is omnipresent and eternal.

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Psalm 37:23 The Lord guides a man safely in the way he should go.

Prov. 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

Before the General Resurrection/Last Judgment and after a person's death, there is only a foretaste of the future, and for those whose experience is torment, it is not irreversible through the prayers of the Church. In other words, it ain't over till it's over.

Quote

it is not irreversible through the prayers of the Church. In other words, it ain't over till it's over.

To me, this whole sentence seems to be saying that it is reversible by the prayers of the Church (i.e. the unsaved will feel the tormenting only for a limited period of time by the prayers of the Church).

One explanation I've heard is that the fire experienced by the unbeliever is the light and love of God experienced as a burning fire by those who wish to escape His presence and who can't because he is omnipresent and eternal.

Okay, does the EOC teach that this tormenting experience lasts for eternity?

1. Does the EOC teach that unbelievers who have not been saved by faith in Jesus will be [tormented for eternity].

I don't like the idea of linking "torment" and "hell" but then again English is not my native language so I might fail to catch all of the connotations. Anyway, here's something from St. Augustine which I recently quoted in an another thread. It summarizes my view on Hell:

112. ... But let them suppose, if it pleases them, that, for certain intervals of time, the punishments of the damned are somewhat mitigated. Even so, the wrath of God must be understood as still resting on them. And this is damnation--for this anger, which is not a violent passion in the divine mind, is called "wrath" in God. Yet even in his wrath--his wrath resting on them--he does not "shut up his mercy." This is not to put an end to their eternal afflictions, but rather to apply or interpose some little respite in their torments. For the psalm does not say, "To put an end to his wrath," or, "After his wrath," but, "In his wrath." ... 113. The eternal death of the damned--that is, their estrangement from the life of God--will therefore abide without end, and it will be common to them all, no matter what some people, moved by their human feelings, may wish to think about gradations of punishment, or the relief or intermission of their misery. In the same way, the eternal life of the saints will abide forever, and also be common to all of them no matter how different the grades of rank and honor in which they shine forth in their effulgent harmony.

God is love, so He does not desire that anybody suffers. Hell is only for those who hate God. Though, God will do His best to save everybody, so the question is not whether God wants anybody to go to hell, but whether all people will accept Him. After death people still have the opportunity to repent until the Final Judgement; again it's their choice, nobody can force them either way, it's all about what one truly wants for himself. Hell is not a place where God punishes people either, of course. It is the state of one's soul who hates God and everybody else (such a soul cannot experience peace and accomplishment). In a way, it is the presence/knowledge of God that torments them, but we must be careful that we don't think that God's presence itself is actually purposely tormenting them. What torments them is really the way they perceive God's Presence. It's their perception that is upside down, otherwise, God's Presence is always positive. And, so they don't experience God's Presence the same way as the righteous because God's Grace (Energies) are selective. (they know God is there, but they also can't see/experience Him they way the righteous do, but they see Him as darkness, in a state of separation from Him).Also, in the age to come, all people will receive a spiritual body, they will be like angels in a body, so the torments will not be physical in nature because that won't even be possible. The torments will be spiritual. I guess we could say deeply emotional, psychic, yet some saints say that they will be even worse than physical fire. That's not to be taken as if it is a sort of physical fire that is worse than physical fire as we know it. No, it's a spiritual fire -- the root of this torment is the pride of the evil person who can never accept that their evil passions cannot be fulfilled anymore. So they experience this total "personal failure" as if it is the death of who they are, of who they would have wanted to be, but can never be; this is really worse that physical fire. The torments are actually multiple, but they all have as the root this evil love of self. It's paradoxical, too, because these evil people do cause their own suffering while knowing that they do (insane).

One explanation I've heard is that the fire experienced by the unbeliever is the light and love of God experienced as a burning fire by those who wish to escape His presence and who can't because he is omnipresent and eternal.

Okay, does the EOC teach that this tormenting experience lasts for eternity?

It is my understanding that the tormenting is not caused by God but by the individual inward hatred. Does it last forever and ever? I believe so, not because God wants them to suffer and not because they can't repent, but because they refuse the Light and Love of God, other words they refuse to be in relationship with Him. In any case, I prefer not to find out the hard way.

One explanation I've heard is that the fire experienced by the unbeliever is the light and love of God experienced as a burning fire by those who wish to escape His presence and who can't because he is omnipresent and eternal.

Okay, does the EOC teach that this tormenting experience lasts for eternity?

Do you want people to suffer forever?

Heaven and hell begin here, in this life. Those who love God experience paradise even on earth. Those who hate Him experience the sufferings of hell. The death of the body occurs, and the soul lives on and experiences its spiritual reality more fully. The prayers of the Church and the prayers and deeds and love of the living can mitigate departed souls' suffering or increase their joy and experience of blessedness. This is because, due to Christ's resurrection, death has been conquered and no longer divides people like it used to. However, the state of blessedness or suffering experience by people after death is temporary and not complete. This is because the Lord has not yet returned, raised the bodies of the dead, reunited soul and body in the general resurrection, judged all souls, and assigned an eternal state. After the last judgment, people will experience either eternal blessedness or eternal suffering. But, as I said, until that day occurrs, it is possible for a suffering soul to experience relief. Whether its eternal state changes is up to God at the last judgment. Does that make sense? You have to remember that the last judgment has not yet happened.

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Quote from: GabrieltheCelt

If you spend long enough on this forum, you'll come away with all sorts of weird, untrue ideas of Orthodox Christianity.

Quote from: orthonorm

I would suggest most persons in general avoid any question beginning with why.

Do not fear! All that God wills is right and good. Whatever the "technicalities" of the Judgement of God will be, they will be just and loving and will be right. Don't let anxieties about these kinds of questions rob you of your peace. Trust in God, pray for forgiveness, try to do as little evil as you are capable and pray to be more more capable. Be kind and forgiving to those who annoy you, and know that what feels like a long time to go is only the blink of an eye: all our petty worries are but nothing and death will come soon. Allow your heart to rest in simplicity and above all know that God loves you.

This article explaines how orthodox christians understand of heaven and hell with the support of the Scripture. I think it can help you a lot.

You do realize that this section of the forum is devoted to discussion of the Orthodox Christian faith from an Orthodox Christian point of view? You might wish to be more careful, then, what outside sources you cite as orthodox (or Orthodox).

This article explaines how orthodox christians understand of heaven and hell with the support of the Scripture. I think it can help you a lot.

You do realize that this section of the forum is devoted to discussion of the Orthodox Christian faith from an Orthodox Christian point of view? You might wish to be more careful, then, what outside sources you cite as orthodox (or Orthodox).

Yes, this source or this understanding of heaven and hell aligns to Orthodox Christian Faith.

How can Satan pure Evil ,Stand Before God as Scripture mentions ,And Not Be tormented??? When Satan tested Job ,God told Satan Not to take Jobs life.....

I have just found a very interesting question about hell from a former subject( e.g. Eternal torment or annihilation?).

In Book of Job,Satan standed before God with the angels. How can the impure Satan stand before the holiness God , and still not be tormented? Any idea about this question?

God is everywhere. His Presence allows Satan to exist.

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If you will, you can become all flame.Extra caritatem nulla salus.In order to become whole, take the "I" out of "holiness". सर्वभूतहितἌνω σχῶμεν τὰς καρδίας"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is." -- Mohandas GandhiY dduw bo'r diolch.

ABSOLUTELY the Eastern Orthodox Church believes that HELL is a place where the person/soul in hell burns in eternal fire where the worm never dies. Not trying to be insulting, but this belief is seriously Orthodox 101 folks.

There are a LOT of books describing this. Journey to Heaven by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and Ladder of divine ascent for example.... I've read this description so many times I could not count. It's even in the Orthodox prayers "...fires of hell...". It's depicted in Orthodox Iconography as well.

How can Satan pure Evil ,Stand Before God as Scripture mentions ,And Not Be tormented??? When Satan tested Job ,God told Satan Not to take Jobs life.....

I have just found a very interesting question about hell from a former subject( e.g. Eternal torment or annihilation?).

In Book of Job,Satan standed before God with the angels. How can the impure Satan stand before the holiness God , and still not be tormented? Any idea about this question?

God is everywhere. His Presence allows Satan to exist.

Hell is inescapable presence of God. And impure sinners who hate God will suffered by His loving and Holiness presence. They will feel pain, terror and fear in GOd's presence forever. (And God' love is the most vehement flame. God itself is consuming fire)

Satan is most impure and evil one among all the creations of God. But Why can impure Satan stand before God and be in the Holiness presence of God , and still not be tormented?

Is there any difference between God's presence with Satan that shows in Book of Bob and His presence with sinners in hell?

This article explaines how orthodox christians understand of heaven and hell with the support of the Scripture. I think it can help you a lot.

You do realize that this section of the forum is devoted to discussion of the Orthodox Christian faith from an Orthodox Christian point of view? You might wish to be more careful, then, what outside sources you cite as orthodox (or Orthodox).

Did I miss something? I read the article and it certainly seemed to present itself as Orthodox. Had recommendations and editorial credit to people from both the OCA and Antiochian churches too.

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Psalm 37:23 The Lord guides a man safely in the way he should go.

Prov. 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

ABSOLUTELY the Eastern Orthodox Church believes that HELL is a place where the person/soul in hell burns in eternal fire where the worm never dies. Not trying to be insulting, but this belief is seriously Orthodox 101 folks.

There are a LOT of books describing this. Journey to Heaven by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and Ladder of divine ascent for example.... I've read this description so many times I could not count. It's even in the Orthodox prayers "...fires of hell...". It's depicted in Orthodox Iconography as well.

One explanation I've heard is that the fire experienced by the unbeliever is the light and love of God experienced as a burning fire by those who wish to escape His presence and who can't because he is omnipresent and eternal.

Okay, does the EOC teach that this tormenting experience lasts for eternity?

Isnt it accurate to say that righteous people plus all the prophets and our forefather Adam were in Hades......until......Christ descended to Hades on Great and Holy Saturday and freed them?

« Last Edit: October 02, 2012, 03:25:05 PM by Marc1152 »

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Your idea has been debunked 1000 times already.. Maybe 1001 will be the charm

ABSOLUTELY the Eastern Orthodox Church believes that HELL is a place where the person/soul in hell burns in eternal fire where the worm never dies. Not trying to be insulting, but this belief is seriously Orthodox 101 folks.

There are a LOT of books describing this. Journey to Heaven by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and Ladder of divine ascent for example.... I've read this description so many times I could not count. It's even in the Orthodox prayers "...fires of hell...". It's depicted in Orthodox Iconography as well.

Define eternal..

Isnt it true that some people have been saved from Hell after their death by prayers for them?Orthodoxy 102

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Your idea has been debunked 1000 times already.. Maybe 1001 will be the charm

Do not fear! All that God wills is right and good. Whatever the "technicalities" of the Judgement of God will be, they will be just and loving and will be right. Don't let anxieties about these kinds of questions rob you of your peace. Trust in God, pray for forgiveness, try to do as little evil as you are capable and pray to be more more capable. Be kind and forgiving to those who annoy you, and know that what feels like a long time to go is only the blink of an eye: all our petty worries are but nothing and death will come soon. Allow your heart to rest in simplicity and above all know that God loves you.

POM nomination

is there a second?

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Your idea has been debunked 1000 times already.. Maybe 1001 will be the charm

ABSOLUTELY the Eastern Orthodox Church believes that HELL is a place where the person/soul in hell burns in eternal fire where the worm never dies. Not trying to be insulting, but this belief is seriously Orthodox 101 folks.

There are a LOT of books describing this. Journey to Heaven by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and Ladder of divine ascent for example.... I've read this description so many times I could not count. It's even in the Orthodox prayers "...fires of hell...". It's depicted in Orthodox Iconography as well.

Define eternal..

Isnt it true that some people have been saved from Hell after their death by prayers for them?Orthodoxy 102

Alter "Hell" to "Hades," and I would answer in the affirmative.

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If you will, you can become all flame.Extra caritatem nulla salus.In order to become whole, take the "I" out of "holiness". सर्वभूतहितἌνω σχῶμεν τὰς καρδίας"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is." -- Mohandas GandhiY dduw bo'r diolch.

One explanation I've heard is that the fire experienced by the unbeliever is the light and love of God experienced as a burning fire by those who wish to escape His presence and who can't because he is omnipresent and eternal.

Okay, does the EOC teach that this tormenting experience lasts for eternity?

Isnt it accurate to say that righteous people plus all the prophets and our forefather Adam were in Hades......until......Christ descended to Hades on Great and Holy Saturday and freed them?

Yes.

However, those who find themselves in Hell after the Final Judgement, will unfortunately remain in that state....for eternity.

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Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

In traditional RC theology, Hell is what happens to the unsaved after bodily death, and once there you have no escape. The only thing that will change is that, before the Last Judgment, only your soul will be tormented, while after the Judgment and the resurrection of the body, both body and soul will be tormented for eternity. Purgatory, on the other hand, is where your soul goes if it is saved but still has some temporal penalties to "pay off"; everyone in Purgatory will end up in Heaven after the Last Judgment.

In Orthodox theology, from what I understand, the term Hell is a little misleading, because there are actually two things that we can call Hades and Gehenna. Hades is where your soul goes after death if you have not repented OR if you have repented, but haven't brought forth fruits of repentance. There is no Purgatory. However, the souls in Hades that have repented may still be saved through the prayers of the Church (and possibly through God's direct intervention, but the Church is silent on the details). Of course, this means you have to die in the Church to take advantage of the Church's prayers.

At the Last Judgment, and the bodily resurrection, everyone will be judged according to whether they followed the dictates of their conscience. Not everyone in Hades will necessarily end up in Gehenna, but those who are sent to Gehenna will never escape after that.

One priest, now Orthodox but formerly RC, explained to me that the difference between the RC idea of Purgatory, and the Orthodox teaching that souls in Hades may still be saved through the Church's prayers, is that the Orthodox believe there is no repentance in Hades. This means a soul in Hades can't save itself by repenting, or by "paying off" temporal debts, but only the Church can help it at that point. In other words, it is not the suffering in Hades that saves a repentant soul, but simply the fact that the soul repented before death AND died within the bosom of the Church.

The moral of the whole story, as I see it, is that you really have to follow your own conscience above all else. This mainly manifests itself in love of the truth. One part of that is seeking the truth about God, which should lead you to the True Church, where you can avail yourself of Her prayers (both on Earth and in Heaven). The other part is seeking the truth about yourself, which means constantly examining your conscience and confessing all your sins, so that nothing will be held against you either after death or at the Last Day.

ABSOLUTELY the Eastern Orthodox Church believes that HELL is a place where the person/soul in hell burns in eternal fire where the worm never dies. Not trying to be insulting, but this belief is seriously Orthodox 101 folks.

There are a LOT of books describing this. Journey to Heaven by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and Ladder of divine ascent for example.... I've read this description so many times I could not count. It's even in the Orthodox prayers "...fires of hell...". It's depicted in Orthodox Iconography as well.

ABSOLUTELY the Eastern Orthodox Church believes that HELL is a place where the person/soul in hell burns in eternal fire where the worm never dies. Not trying to be insulting, but this belief is seriously Orthodox 101 folks.

There are a LOT of books describing this. Journey to Heaven by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and Ladder of divine ascent for example.... I've read this description so many times I could not count. It's even in the Orthodox prayers "...fires of hell...". It's depicted in Orthodox Iconography as well.

However, those who find themselves in Hell after the Final Judgement, will unfortunately remain in that state....for eternity.

This answer was what I was looking for. The same is also affirmed by Roman Catholics as well. I am amazed that many EO posters have a different opinion instead of looking at the official teaching of the EOC regarding the Lake of Fire.

However, those who find themselves in Hell after the Final Judgement, will unfortunately remain in that state....for eternity.

This answer was what I was looking for. The same is also affirmed by Roman Catholics as well. I am amazed that many Orthodox posters have a different opinion instead of looking at the official teaching of the EOC regarding the Lake of Fire.

So many? Where? I'm not sure I've ever come across one that would disagree with what Liza wrote. Are you sure you're not confusing our beliefs about what happens after the particular judgement with what happens after the Last Judgement?

James

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We owe greater gratitude to those who humble us, wrong us, and douse us with venom, than to those who nurse us with honour and sweet words, or feed us with tasty food and confections, for bile is the best medicine for our soul. - Elder Paisios of Mount Athos

ABSOLUTELY the Eastern Orthodox Church believes that HELL is a place where the person/soul in hell burns in eternal fire where the worm never dies. Not trying to be insulting, but this belief is seriously Orthodox 101 folks.

There are a LOT of books describing this. Journey to Heaven by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and Ladder of divine ascent for example.... I've read this description so many times I could not count. It's even in the Orthodox prayers "...fires of hell...". It's depicted in Orthodox Iconography as well.

However, those who find themselves in Hell after the Final Judgement, will unfortunately remain in that state....for eternity.

This answer was what I was looking for. The same is also affirmed by Roman Catholics as well. I am amazed that many EO posters have a different opinion instead of looking at the official teaching of the EOC regarding the Lake of Fire.

Excuse me, you were given this answer in many posts here.

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Quote from: GabrieltheCelt

If you spend long enough on this forum, you'll come away with all sorts of weird, untrue ideas of Orthodox Christianity.

Quote from: orthonorm

I would suggest most persons in general avoid any question beginning with why.

ABSOLUTELY the Eastern Orthodox Church believes that HELL is a place where the person/soul in hell burns in eternal fire where the worm never dies. Not trying to be insulting, but this belief is seriously Orthodox 101 folks.

There are a LOT of books describing this. Journey to Heaven by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and Ladder of divine ascent for example.... I've read this description so many times I could not count. It's even in the Orthodox prayers "...fires of hell...". It's depicted in Orthodox Iconography as well.

Some English bible versions interpret Mark 9:48 as "Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched", some interpret it as" the worms that eat them do not die,and the fire is not quenched".

How about in LXX or other greek bible version??In LXX or other greek bible version, the word 'worm' is a singular number or plural ?

LXX stands for the Septuagint; which is a collection of Greek Translations of the Old Testament. Since you are interested in Mark 9:48, it will not be in the LXX. When it comes to New Testament, there are two poplular collection of texts; one is called the Majority Text and another one is called the Critical Text (or some people refer to it as NU text). Both of them are Orthodox in origin; however higher preference is given to the Majority Text in Orthodox circles. The "Eastern Orthodox Bible" is a translation of the Majority / Patriarchal Text. And the following is how the above verse reads in it:

Quote

It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, rather than with two eyes be cast into the Gehennae of fire, ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

Some English bible versions interpret Mark 9:48 as "Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched", some interpret it as" the worms that eat them do not die,and the fire is not quenched".

How about in LXX or other greek bible version??In LXX or other greek bible version, the word 'worm' is a singular number or plural ?

LXX stands for the Septuagint; which is a collection of Greek Translations of the Old Testament. Since you are interested in Mark 9:48, it will not be in the LXX. When it comes to New Testament, there are two poplular collection of texts; one is called the Majority Text and another one is called the Critical Text (or some people refer to it as NU text). Both of them are Orthodox in origin; however higher preference is given to the Majority Text in Orthodox circles. The "Eastern Orthodox Bible" is a translation of the Majority / Patriarchal Text. And the following is how the above verse reads in it:

Quote

It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, rather than with two eyes be cast into the Gehennae of fire, ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

So the worm appears in the singular form.

But some Englsih bible version is not in singular form, like NIV interpret it as 'worms', not worm .Messages interpret it as 'maggots'. Thus, I am interest about the orginal text, greek and Hebrew Scripture of this word,e.g. worm.

But some Englsih bible version is not in singular form, like NIV interpret it as 'worms', not worm .Messages interpret it as 'maggots'. Thus, I am interest about the orginal text, greek and Hebrew Scripture of this word,e.g. word.

Please note none of the New Testament books were written in Hebrew. All scholars agree that almost all of the New Testament was written in Greek. The only confusion is about the Gospel of Matthew. Some say the original langauge of that is Syriac / Aramaic while others say it was also originaly written in Greek. So the question of original Hebrew text of the New Testament does not even arise.

Now the ORIGINAL, Greek text of the New Testament is also not a simple answer either. There is no just ONE single ORIGINAL text of the New Testament in Greek. There are various manuscripts; which scholars have grouped into:1. Majority Text (Byzantine type text)2. Minority Text (Alexandrian type text also called Critical Text, NU Text etc)3. Western text type.You can read more at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textual_criticism#New_Testament

Even within each text type there are slight variations. In 1902, in order to ensure ecclesiastical harmony, the Ecumenical Patriarchate appointed a committee whose task was to publish a common and official text. This committee retired to Mount Athos and studied about 20 major Byzantine manuscripts from which they adopted one, yet taking into consideration significant variants from other manuscripts. This text, which is very close to the so called Majority Text (MT), was published for the first time in 1904.

The quote that I have given above with worm in the singular is from the EOB.Another reason why sola scriptura is problamatic. Which version is the "sola" ? That is why scripture has to be interpreted within the Church; not by each person the way he or she wants to.

But some Englsih bible version is not in singular form, like NIV interpret it as 'worms', not worm .Messages interpret it as 'maggots'. Thus, I am interest about the orginal text, greek and Hebrew Scripture of this word,e.g. word.

Please note none of the New Testament books were written in Hebrew. All scholars agree that almost all of the New Testament was written in Greek. The only confusion is about the Gospel of Matthew. Some say the original langauge of that is Syriac / Aramaic while others say it was also originaly written in Greek. So the question of original Hebrew text of the New Testament does not even arise.

Now the ORIGINAL, Greek text of the New Testament is also not a simple answer either. There is no just ONE single ORIGINAL text of the New Testament in Greek. There are various manuscripts; which scholars have grouped into:1. Majority Text (Byzantine type text)2. Minority Text (Alexandrian type text also called Critical Text, NU Text etc)3. Western text type.You can read more at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textual_criticism#New_Testament

Even within each text type there are slight variations. In 1902, in order to ensure ecclesiastical harmony, the Ecumenical Patriarchate appointed a committee whose task was to publish a common and official text. This committee retired to Mount Athos and studied about 20 major Byzantine manuscripts from which they adopted one, yet taking into consideration significant variants from other manuscripts. This text, which is very close to the so called Majority Text (MT), was published for the first time in 1904.

The quote that I have given above with worm in the singular is from the EOB.Another reason why sola scriptura is problamatic. Which version is the "sola" ? That is why scripture has to be interpreted within the Church; not by each person the way he or she wants to.

As I've told that more and more Protestant Christians claim that God has led them to visit hell. They come back and tell how horrible hell is and use them to preach the gospel. Some pastors even like to use these of hell-visitation testimonies to preach the gospel , scare people and force them to believe Jusus. It is more popular in Protestant, especially in charismatic and pentecostal Church. I also heard two of this type of preaching in Evangelistic meeting beofre.

Quite a lot of Protestant Christians claims that they have visited the hell. Some of them claims that they saw the demons to bring the sinner to the rim/boader of lake of fire. And then a lot of worms/maggots come out from that lake of fire and eat the meat of that sinner. All these must be false teachings/ lies. I think these liars should study the bible deeper before they write their hell-visitation testimony books and sell them to the market.

But some Englsih bible version is not in singular form, like NIV interpret it as 'worms', not worm .Messages interpret it as 'maggots'. Thus, I am interest about the orginal text, greek and Hebrew Scripture of this word,e.g. word.

Please note none of the New Testament books were written in Hebrew. All scholars agree that almost all of the New Testament was written in Greek. The only confusion is about the Gospel of Matthew. Some say the original langauge of that is Syriac / Aramaic while others say it was also originaly written in Greek. So the question of original Hebrew text of the New Testament does not even arise.

Now the ORIGINAL, Greek text of the New Testament is also not a simple answer either. There is no just ONE single ORIGINAL text of the New Testament in Greek. There are various manuscripts; which scholars have grouped into:1. Majority Text (Byzantine type text)2. Minority Text (Alexandrian type text also called Critical Text, NU Text etc)3. Western text type.You can read more at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textual_criticism#New_Testament

Even within each text type there are slight variations. In 1902, in order to ensure ecclesiastical harmony, the Ecumenical Patriarchate appointed a committee whose task was to publish a common and official text. This committee retired to Mount Athos and studied about 20 major Byzantine manuscripts from which they adopted one, yet taking into consideration significant variants from other manuscripts. This text, which is very close to the so called Majority Text (MT), was published for the first time in 1904.

The quote that I have given above with worm in the singular is from the EOB.Another reason why sola scriptura is problamatic. Which version is the "sola" ? That is why scripture has to be interpreted within the Church; not by each person the way he or she wants to.

In Protestant, there are many famous Bible scholars. They like to interpret the scripture according to the way or approach they like. Thus, the scholars easily divide into different sides and make accusation of heretic and unbibical to each other

However, those who find themselves in Hell after the Final Judgement, will unfortunately remain in that state....for eternity.

This answer was what I was looking for. The same is also affirmed by Roman Catholics as well. I am amazed that many EO posters have a different opinion instead of looking at the official teaching of the EOC regarding the Lake of Fire.

This is the answer you were looking for??? This really looks like you are just hanging out waiting for someone to give the answer you already decided is the right one then jumping on that allowing you to dismiss anything else that you don't like. Maybe I'm wrong but that what it looks like to me and cherry picking is not the way to approach Orthodoxy.

Moreover when you talk about the "official teaching" of the EO church, my understanding at least,is that the EO church has little by way of dogma (mostly what is contained within the Creed) and that outside of that there can be a variety of opinions which can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and from Church Father to Church Father. This, if I'm understanding things correctly, (and someone with more knowledge correct me if I'm not) is one of the things that makes it very hard for westerners to understand the Orthodox Church at first. We come in looking for a single statement of faith that touches on all the points the Roman church does or many Protestant churches do and don't find it. We therefore read the opinion of one Metropolitan or jurisdiction and assume that it represents the whole of the Church when it does not. Again, perhaps I'm wrong but my understanding is that truth for the Church lies not in the opinions of one or two but in the consensus of the multitude that a teaching indeed accurately reflects what was passed down from the apostles.

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Psalm 37:23 The Lord guides a man safely in the way he should go.

Prov. 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

However, those who find themselves in Hell after the Final Judgement, will unfortunately remain in that state....for eternity.

This answer was what I was looking for. The same is also affirmed by Roman Catholics as well. I am amazed that many EO posters have a different opinion instead of looking at the official teaching of the EOC regarding the Lake of Fire.

Excuse me, you were given this answer in many posts here.

Oh I see... I must have been reading the posts too quickly last time. Thanks for pointing it out.

One explanation I've heard is that the fire experienced by the unbeliever is the light and love of God experienced as a burning fire by those who wish to escape His presence and who can't because he is omnipresent and eternal.

God is love, so He does not desire that anybody suffers. Hell is only for those who hate God. Though, God will do His best to save everybody, so the question is not whether God wants anybody to go to hell, but whether all people will accept Him. After death people still have the opportunity to repent until the Final Judgement; again it's their choice, nobody can force them either way, it's all about what one truly wants for himself.

I'm wondering how these comments fit in with what Shanghaiski was saying:

This is because the Lord has not yet returned, raised the bodies of the dead, reunited soul and body in the general resurrection, judged all souls, and assigned an eternal state. After the last judgment, people will experience either eternal blessedness or eternal suffering. But, as I said, until that day occurrs, it is possible for a suffering soul to experience relief. Whether its eternal state changes is up to God at the last judgment.

I was telling my husband something similar to what Maximum Bob and IoanC are saying, and his question was, "Do Orthodox Christians even believe in the last judgment? It sounds like people are just sorting themselves." I didn't know how to answer. Is God actually declaring and assigning judgment, or is the last judgment simply formalizing what we have already chosen for ourselves? If it's the second, how does that fit with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man wants to be where Abraham and Lazarus are?